[ LETTER ]

Gun Control

Published: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 12:02 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 12:02 a.m.

Douglas Elliott recently wrote a letter stating in part that "we have our government going on an all-out war banning our constitutional right to own and bear arms" ["Target Reason for The Problem, Not the Constitution," Jan. 18].

Guess I haven't been paying enough attention to the self-proclaimed messiahs of the NRA and right-wing tea partiers such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, etc. I didn't know banning personal weapons had even been hinted at. Guess that is what I get for not listening exclusively to Fox News. (And, yes, I own guns.)

However, look at some of the things our governments have imposed on us. To name a few: making it against the law to not wear seatbelts when driving, insisting that companies adhere to strict standards when producing the food we eat, making it unlawful to discipline your own children in any way that you want and imposing speed limits on the highways, etc.

I could go on and on with restrictions on personal liberties that were certainly not considered in the original constitution, but why bother? Why shouldn't every household have grenade launchers if they want them?

There are some who know that a portion of the population will believe anything that is said as long as it mirrors or is close to their own opinion. After all, they believe, and are not at all reluctant to broadcast, the absurdities themselves.

JOHN FISK

Auburndale

______

Republicans, conservatives and the NRA have never seen a gun or war weapon they didn't like. Unless, of course, it's a rifle with one of them holding it in a war zone such as Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan. They are notoriously absent from the fighting and have nothing but opinions when it comes to defending our country.

Examples of some who never aspired to become military defenders of their homeland and country: George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Mitt Romney and his five sons.

These Republicans and the NRA are solidly in opposition to President Barack Obama's initiative and efforts to enact laws that will get war weapons of slaughter out of the hands of unauthorized and mentally deranged individuals.

Citizens and voters of Florida you need to get behind the president and support his efforts to abolish access to these war weapons.

<p>Douglas Elliott recently wrote a letter stating in part that "we have our government going on an all-out war banning our constitutional right to own and bear arms" ["Target Reason for The Problem, Not the Constitution," Jan. 18].</p><p>Guess I haven't been paying enough attention to the self-proclaimed messiahs of the NRA and right-wing tea partiers such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, etc. I didn't know banning personal weapons had even been hinted at. Guess that is what I get for not listening exclusively to Fox News. (And, yes, I own guns.)</p><p>However, look at some of the things our governments have imposed on us. To name a few: making it against the law to not wear seatbelts when driving, insisting that companies adhere to strict standards when producing the food we eat, making it unlawful to discipline your own children in any way that you want and imposing speed limits on the highways, etc.</p><p>I could go on and on with restrictions on personal liberties that were certainly not considered in the original constitution, but why bother? Why shouldn't every household have grenade launchers if they want them?</p><p>There are some who know that a portion of the population will believe anything that is said as long as it mirrors or is close to their own opinion. After all, they believe, and are not at all reluctant to broadcast, the absurdities themselves.</p><p>JOHN FISK</p><p>Auburndale</p><p></p><p>______</p><p></p><p></p><p>Republicans, conservatives and the NRA have never seen a gun or war weapon they didn't like. Unless, of course, it's a rifle with one of them holding it in a war zone such as Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan. They are notoriously absent from the fighting and have nothing but opinions when it comes to defending our country.</p><p>Examples of some who never aspired to become military defenders of their homeland and country: George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Mitt Romney and his five sons.</p><p>These Republicans and the NRA are solidly in opposition to President Barack Obama's initiative and efforts to enact laws that will get war weapons of slaughter out of the hands of unauthorized and mentally deranged individuals.</p><p>Citizens and voters of Florida you need to get behind the president and support his efforts to abolish access to these war weapons.</p><p>RUDY SULLIVAN</p><p>Lakeland</p>